STOP THE PRESSES! Put away whatever bullsh-t story you’re reading about the Iraq war or the auto industry bailout, and pay attention to this front-page A1 above-the-fold news: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers held cheerleading tryouts!

It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or a three-year veteran… If you want to be a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders, you have to try out.

“They have a little more to lose if when they’ve already been on the team,” Bucs cheerleading coach Sandy Charboneau said. “There’s a lot of competition.”

More than 300 women attended try-outs [this weekend] at the University of South Florida Sun Dome for one of about 30 spots for the 2009-10 squad, Charboneau said. “They’re vying for a small percentage of women that can be in the NFL.”